If you start 6 months in advance, you don’t need to spend every day on LSAT prep. However, starting this early is an advantage, because even if you only spend a few hours every weekend for the first 3 months, you will have more time to familiarize yourself with the LSAT. A big part of mastering the LSAT is simply becoming familiar and comfortable with the material.

The last 3 months before the LSAT will be the most important. During this period, you should really step up your LSAT prep. Dedicate at least 10-20 hours a week studying and reviewing the best lsat prep books and working through practice test questions.

During the final few weeks before you take the LSAT, you should clear your schedule of everything except for preparing for the LSAT. The month before I took the LSAT, I spent at least 40 hours a week preparing. I was able to increase my score from about a 163 leading into the final month of LSAT preparation to a 177 on exam day by working REALLY hard during those last four weeks. However, I had already increased my score from about a 153 to a 163 during the earlier months of my prep.

If you have 6 months until you want to take the LSAT, then you should start some light preparation today. If you only have 3 months left, don’t despair, there is still plenty of time if you work hard! If you have less than 3 months, then consider taking the LSAT at a later date, or clear your schedule and work full time on LSAT preparation starting today!

2 Comments

After intensely prepping for a little over a month, I decided that I would not be prepared in time to achieve my highest potential on the test. I decided to move my test date from June to September. I don’t want to lose the progress that I have made thus far, but I also do not want to run out of test material. I have completed the Powerscore Bibles and I am a little more than halfway through the “10, Actual Official LSAT Preptests.”

Should I follow the three month study strategy, or should I try to spread my studying from now until September? I work 40 hrs a week.

Thank you for this website, it has already been an excellent resource.

If I were you, I would take about half of May off. Don’t think about the LSAT in this time. Surprisingly, when you come back after a break you’ll often find you’ve gotten better. It’s strange I know, but this is a common phenomenon. Then follow the 3 month, modified a little to stretch it out for the extra couple weeks. The extra time should help with the fact that you are working a full time job.